Folding bed



April 5, 1932- w. A. MOELLER FOLDING BED Filed April 23, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet `l April 5, 1932- wl A. MoELLl-:R 1,852,185

FOLDING BED Filed April 25, 1929 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 5, 1932 UNITED STATES W'CFLLIAM AUGUST MOELLER, OF LOS ANGELES, GALIFORN'B'.

FOLDING BED Application led April 23,

This invention. has to do withV a folding bedi, and it is ageneral object of the inven* tion to provide a simple, eective and improved folding bed of the type commonly C lrnown as ai davenport or day bed.

It is a' primary object of this invention to provide a folding bed that occupies a minimum amount of space.

It is another object of the invention to prom vide aV folding bed? of the davenport type in which the back is automatically operated to a position clear of the other parts upon the. device being operated `to the extended position. n y

Another object of the invention is to pro--V vide aA simple, improved,'lever mechanism foi` a ybed construction of the character mentioned.

It is another object of my present invention. to provide a ldavenport type of folding bedin which the back portion is shiftable and; is counterba-lanced to operate freely.

Ity is another object of my invention to provide .a davenp'ort type of folding bed which is of' simpleV construction and which is convenient and easy to operate. l y

A further object of my inventionV is to provide a` davenport type of folding bed in which thegback portion is adapted to bev moved to an upv position out of engagement with the seat portion and to remain in such position..

until deliberately operated.r

The Various obj ects! andfeatures of my in vention will be best and. more fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferredform of the invention, throughout' which description reference is hadftoythe accompanying drawings, in which Fil-g. 1' isi a front elevation of a typical daven-port or day bed embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailedview taken substantially as indicated byline 2-2 on Fig.. .1 showing the` parts in folded posi-v tion.; Fig; 8 isa' ViewA similar to Fig.,2 showing the construction partiallyV operated. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the constructionI fully operated orextended. Fig. y 5 is a viewy taken as indicated by line 5-5 on Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 is anv enlarged detailed 19129. seriaiNo. 357,594.

end view of the back construction showing itt in the up position. y f The construction provided by this' invention 'is applicable, generally, tothe folding bed type' of davenport. Iwll confine the' 55?? present disclosure to a form ofthe invention particularly suited to the ordinary or con-` ventional folding bed davenport, it being understood that the broader features of the`V invention may be appliedl 'to Various con- '6011i structions of similarnature.

Thefconstruction includes, generally, abase 10', an inner frame 11 mounted for vertical' movement in the base, a'seat frame or outer bed frame 12', and meansconnecting the outer 65iv t bed frame) 12 with thefbase 11G-and theinner frame 11 so that the outerl frame is operable between a folded position where Vit is-directlyf above the` inner frame and an extended posi# tion -wherefit adj'oins the forward'edge-of the 701 '1.

inner frame and is in the same horizontal plane-as the inner frame. -Theconstructlon also includes a back frame 13" mounted' for vertical'movement at the' rear portion of the r base. "The construction includes other fea-5755i tures such as means 14:'v operating to. counter-- balance the outer frame-to make it easilyop-v erated, means 80 operatingtocounterbalance the back to make it easily operated, supporting legs 1-5 for the outery frame when inno` the extended position, means lforautomatically operating'the legs 14, etc.'

Thebase 10 may be areotangular structure:- having spaced ends joined by front and rearf sides. In the construction shown each -en-df85` ofthe base is in the form of a frame including legs 20 andv horizontal braces 2.1 ex'- tending between the legs".

The inner bed frame 11 is a rectangular structure" mounted in the base 10' forvertical 9U movement between a down position suchas? is shown in Fig. 2 and an up position such as shown in Fig. 4'. The frame 111 may be formed of angle iron, or'the like, to-have ends 24 and sides 25 extending betweenV theends. 95 Theframe 11 may be'V provided with a suitable vspring construction 26 in the mannerl usual it may be a rectangular structure formed of Y angle iron, or the like, to have ends 27 and sides 28. The frame 12 may be provided with springs 29 or the like, similar to the construction provided on the frame 11. The outer frame 12 is adapted to be operated between an in/or folded position, where it is above the inner frame11, and an extended position where it adjoins the forward side of the frame 11 and is inthe same plane as the frame 11. Vhen the outer frame 12 is in A the folded position it is adapted to be used` as a seat. v

The means provided by this invention for interconnecting the frame 11 and 12 include-s,

generally, a pair of links 35 at each end of the construction connecting thevouterframe 12 with the base -10`and arms 36 projecting fromV the links and carrying the inner frame1 1 so that the inner frame is moved vertically-when the links are moved.l The links n 35 are all thesame length and are arranged parallel with each other so that they remain in the Ysame. position or parallel with each otherthroughout the operation of the mechanism. The links 35 at each end of the construction are spaced apart so that they operate to brace and lend rigidity to the construction. The upper ends of the links are pivotally connected tothe end 27 ofy the/outer frame 12, while the lower ends ofthe links are pivotallyconnected to the brace 21jof lreference to the base and inner frame wheny the'endof the base.Y The links are proportioned so that they fallow the top frame 12 to be swung upward and forward'and then downward vand forward from the positions Vshown in' Fig. 2, tothe position shown in Fig. 4.- VIt=will be apparent that-the links l connect the top frame and base so 4that the top/frame is in the proper .position with in thetwo positions mentioned. f

A` pull or handle 60 maybevprovided on the front side 28 of the upper frame 12.` In

`practice thedevice may be vany form of hand `grip mounted on the side 28,;so that when the construction is in the folded p'osition it is hidden from sight by ornamental facing on the base'10 and/or on the seat frame12.

The armsl 36' projectV from the lowerend portions of the links so that their outer ends engage the end 24 of the inner frame 1.1 as shown throughout the drawings.` The arms 36 are proportioned and angularly disposed with reference to the links so that they operate to support the inner frame at the desired elevation 'when thevconstruction is folded as shown in Fig. 2 and move it upwardly into horizontal alignment with the outer lframe upon the outer frame being movedto the.

extended position shown in Fig. 4. YIn practice I have found it practical to provide braces 37 between the outer portions of the arms and the links so that the arms and links are eecby upholstering ivbraces, andslidably carried in the slots 90. YThe frame 11 mounted in this manner movesonly a short distance horizontally during its movement between the in and the out positions.

The horizontal movementof the frame 11 is end pivotally connected to the frame 11 and the other end pivotally connected with one of the links 35 at a point suitably spaced from the point of pivotal connection between the said link and the base 10. .With the construce,

sov

governed by a connecting rod 100'having one A tion just described the inner frame hasthe desired vertical movement accompanied by a short limited `horizontal movement. This'is ian important feature as it makes the lconstruction compa-ct.` i

he means provided for counterbalancing .Y

the construction' so that it is easily Yoperated Y 'may include ,spring` means connecting the movable partsand the base to be put under tension as the top frame 12 is lowered from its uppermost .position tov4 the' folded position shown in Fig. 2 and when theouter frame is lowered from its uppermost positionto the in.

ancing means may includetwo helicalsprin'gs 38 at each end of theconstruction connecting -the base 10 and a projectingpart. 39 on one of the 'links 35. In the preferred form of the invention shown in the drawings, the

l y ma position as shown in Fig. 4. y The counterbalsprings 38 are. connected to the part 39 andv extend in opposite directions to vconnect to the two legs 2O.` Invthe Yconstruction illus-5f trated the link 40 having the projection 39 is Anot centrally'located between the legs 520. In such "case the spring attached to itheleg spaced farthest `fronfrthe part 39'may beof heavier' construction than the other. The

springs 38 are proportioned'so that one is under tension when the frame 12 is positioned as shown in Fig.'2 while the -otherpis under tension when the frame is positioned as'sh'own in Fig. 4. With this arrangement the springs operate to counteract the 'weight ofy the bed frames 11 and 12 and niakethe constru'c- 'f tion easy to operate.. f y .Y

The legs 15 are pivotally connected .to the vforward portion of the top frame 12 and are in the nature of drop'legs adapted to extend vertically between the frame 12 and the iioor when the frame is extended as shown in Fig.

4, and to be folded up substantially parallel with the `frame 12 when the construction is ffolded asY shownlinFig..2. VThe legs'15 may I be formed of pipe or tubing flattened at their upper ends to accommodate the pivotal connections with the frame.

The means 16 provided by my invention operates to automatically move the legs 15 in-V to operating position as the top frame is extended, thus assuring proper support for the outer frame when in the extendedposition. This means includes an arm extension 42 on the forward link 35 at each end of the frame and connecting rods 43 extending between the arm extensions 42 and the legs, as clearly illus frame 12 is somewhat shorter than the frame 11. rlhe difference in the length of the frames 11 and 12 is sufficient to form the proper clearance between the ends 24 of the frame and the links 35 to permit the arms 36 and the braces 37 to operate freely. Projections 44 are provided on the ends 24 at points where they engage the inner sides of the overlapping portions of the ends 27 of the frame. The projections 44 are provided to steady the construction when in the extended position, and

so prevent lateral movement between the' frames l1 and 12.

The back frame 13 is a rectangular struc` ture mounted on an upwardly projecting extension 50 at the rear of the base and is mov.- able between a. down position such as is shown in Fig. 2, and an up position such as is shown in Fig. 3. The frame 13 may have ends 51 and sides extending between the ends. The back frame 13 is shown provided with a suitable spring construction 52.

The means provided for mounting the back frame 13 for vertical movement includes, gen erally, a pair of links 54 at each end. of the frame 13 connecting the frame 13 with the extension 50. The links 54 at each end of the bacl-z are spaced apart so that they operate to brace and lend rigidity to the structure.

The link 54 are proportioned sol that they allow the back frame 13 to be swung outwardly from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3. A rod 59 is provided to connect the two ends of the con` struction so that they will operate simulta` neously.

The means provided to counterbalance the back rame includes, a spring 70 at each end of the back to assist in moving the back frame to the up position, and to hold it in such a. position. Each spring has one end attached :to the lextension 50 and `fthe other rend" attached 'to :one of :the links 54 at a. point 'between `:its ends. The @points of .connection Aof the-spring-ZO .areloca'ted so that ithe spring is :normal-'ly under rtensiona'nd throws .over

or :past :thep'oint :of connection between the il'nks and fthe :extension 50 so Athat fthe 'sp-ring 'i operates 'tourge'ithe back .framedownwardly when the parts 'are .m the position sho-wn'in Fig. L3 and :upwardly when in therposition shown in Fig; 4. It fis preferred @that lthe parts be-.related `so lthat ithe spring .throws over .center after-.a lshortV yveri-,ical muove-V ment from the .position :shown in Fig. 2.

'The back iframe '13 is normally ysupported bytnelinner Iside `ofthe upper iframe-i12. The I bottom'side :of fthe iback iframe engages the 12Sand forms .acontinuous supportfor fthe'- back 4frame '213. The upper' portions. of 'the sidesV '51 .are :provided Awith downwardly '.f'acing shoulders 101 .which :engageicorresponding-:upwardly lfacing. shoulders 1102.*onextenf sion Orwhenfthe backi-s inthe down position. 'Vhen fthe'ibed :construction `Iisto `ibemoved from .the lfolded .position to fthe'exltended positionylthef .outer :frame isl swung lfrompthe pos1t1onshown in Figf21to that shown ,in IFig.

4. IDuring this operation the innerframe moves 4upwardly 'and forward. The iup-ward movementfofthe frame1-1 Ilifts'thebackframe Y so Stha't :thefspringsZO throw over eentergand carry thefback `frame tofthe'uppositionsshown in Figs. V3 and 4., l/Vhenthebed construction i is returned Lto the Afolded position Athe back 13 may be lreadily flowered to iits i down lposition. i 1

The operation of the device will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description. It is also appa-rent that the construction provided by my invention is simple and inexpensive and is dependable and easy to operate.

Having describedlonly a typ-ical preferred form of my invention, I do not wish to limit myself to the specific details set forth,.but wish to reserve to myself any changes or variations that may appear to those zilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims.

Havng described my invention, I claim:l

1. A bed construction of the character described including, a base, an outer bed frame, Y

links connecting the outer bed frame and the base, the outer bed frame being operable from a position above the base to a position forward frame and alink, a tie` connecting the outer portions of the arms, means counterbalancing the bed frames, the control rod being connected with the link at a point adjacent the f connection of the link With the base and being connected tothe innerframe at a point adj acent the inner end of the frame so that yit aids in supporting thev inner frame on the base When the frames are in the extended position.

2. A bed construction of the character described including, a base, an outer bed frame,

spaced links pivotally connecting lthe outer bed frame with the base, the outer bed frame being operable. from a position above the base to a positionforward of the base, an inner bed frame normally spaced under the outer bed frame, like arms rigidly attached to thelinks and slidably connected With the inner bed frame, the inner bed frame being operable vertically toa position adjacent the outer bed rame'when the outer bed frame is in the position forward of the base, atie connecting the arms at the inner b'ed'frame to maintainv the arms in parallelism during operation and in corresponding :positions relative to the inner bed frame, and a control rod pivotally connected to the inner frame at aY point adjacent the inner end :of the riframe and pivotally connected With a link adjacent the pivotal connection of the 'link With the base so as tocontrol the movement of the inner Viframe and aid in supportingfthe inner frame on the base yWhen the inner frame is in f the 'extended position. c

Inwitness that I claim the foregoing yIf havehereunto subscribed my-name.

WILLIAM AUGUST MOELLER. 

